What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?

Currently, we are resetting the whole operation structure in Mexico, to comply with the new outsourcing law. That happened in the second quarter of 2021, the law came into effect and changed the way companies have operated in Mexico for decades, forcing them to re-allocate employees, the company’s department, tax efficiencies, and others. That whole project was completed in just a few months and involved different C-levels approvals. That all happened only a couple months after I joined Nielsen, which made it even more challenging and rewarding. Besides that, we are currently handling multiple mergers, client discussions, government requests, commercial requests and several other matters all at the same time and with limited resources.

In general, what would you like to see change about the external law firms you use? Examples could be greater flexibility in billing, a more expansive suite of services offered, more transparency in reporting ESG statistics etc.

I like to use law firms that work with me as business partners. I need to have a broad comprehensive view of everything I do in my job so whenever I engage a law firm, I expect the same. Billing flexibility is also important, sometimes we need a fixed fee or sometimes an hourly fee. I really appreciate law firms that try to be flexible enough to work with different alternatives that bring value in a profitable way.

If you have worked in other countries, what are the main challenges unique to operating as an in-house counsel in your current location?

I have worked in approximately 40 different countries worldwide. It is crucial to understand the environment you’re working on, the cultural background, how the laws are applied, and bring those points to the table. These are key points to succeed in a new market.

As we enter the next decade, what skills will a corporate legal team need to succeed in the modern in-house industry?

Corporate legal teams need to understand about the business, the products, the competitors, and work hard to bring solutions. Legal departments must be seen as a revenue centre, not as an expense. Lawyers, in my opinion, have a very broad view of the business and should use that view to facilitate the company’s effort.

How do you suggest in-house lawyers build strong relationships with business partners?

Clear communications and business-oriented approach. I believe that lawyers are one of the most complete professionals, with a very broad view. With this in the background, intelligible reporting, and business-oriented approach, it is very likely that success will happen.